Fergie doesn’t begrudge Mendez a second chance

Disgraced winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was a surprise inclusion in the Peterborough United squad that lost 2-1 in a Championship fixture at the City Ground on Saturday (January 12).

Mendez-Laing was drummed out of London Road alongside record signing Tyrone Barnett for his involvement in a city centre disturbance in November which saw both players cautioned by police for threatening behaviour.

Mendez-Laing, a summer signing from Wolves, was shipped out on loan to League One strugglers Portsmouth, but returned to Posh last week.

Ferguson said: “I don’t bear grudges. Mendez-Laing is back at the club and it’s now up to me and the coaching staff to get the best out of him as a player.

“He clearly has ability, but he must also now knuckle down and do all he can to help this team.”

Mendez-Laing upset many Posh fans with some Twitter comments after he left the club for Fratton Park. He tweeted on Saturday night that ‘It felt good to put on a Posh shirt again,” but some supporters declared their disappointment at seeing the 20-year-old back in the squad.

Mendez-Laing made eight appearances at Portsmouth, but failed to score a goal. He netted his only goal of the current campaign in a 5-2 Posh defeat at Burnley in September, one of three games he has started for Ferguson’s team in the Championship.